iPhone Mental Health Assessments. Just don't... By Robert W Malone MD, MS (09/12/24)

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Dr. Malone describes the dangers of using iPhone and other mental health (and physical health) assessments.

He states: “The Health app built into iPhones is now collecting as much personal information on the mental health of each and every one of us as they can get a hold of.”

Key dangers of these electronic mental health assessments include:

• Access to your own as well as your family’s data.

• Inference of family mental health as well as your own.

• Potential for leaks of your personal health data. Despite reassurance otherwise, such leaks have happened before and will happen again.

• Mental health data might be embarrassing, career-damaging, or could disrupt family relationships.

• New and potentially dangerous (to you) laws, regulations, or mores could occur in the future, so you should not allow your information to be harvested and stored.

• iPhone or other apps could sell your data or pass it off to research groups. Do not naively believe that your mental health data isn’t already being mined; it is!

• Apple partners with various health organizations and academic institutions to conduct health-related studies. Data collected through Apple devices thus can be used to investigate mental health patterns and outcomes. Don’t bet that the data will be kept anonymous.

• Apple currently advertises various mental health services by “connecting” services to people’s phones. Apple writes that “These assessments can help users determine their risk level, connect to resources available in their region, and create a PDF to share with their doctor.”

• Apple can then place ads in the search engine for anti-depressants or physicians that prescribe them. Anti-depressants such as SSRIs are among the most deadly drugs on the planet, not just to the individual, but to others who might be harmed or killed by people under their potentially homicidal or suicidal side effects.

• iPhone has developed its mental health assessment with an “educational grant” from Pfizer [ED: Yes, that Pfizer]! Mental health medical interventions are a big business, and these companies seek to profit.

• While Apple assures that your identification has been stripped from the data, your mental health information will be uploaded to the cloud and could be used in the future. Do not consider this data as secure.

• The American Psychiatric Association and the fields of psychology and psychiatry have hurt people by classifying diseases and disorders incorrectly and by developing dangerous treatments and therapies that are still in use (Dr. Malone provides several examples).

• The software programs are being developed by people with a liberal bias and who will view the beliefs of conservatives negatively. This bias could affect how your data will be used, especially if you or your family members are conservative.

Bottom line: If you use “health tracking” programs (including smart watches), be aware that:

• They can be invasive (and addictive).

• Data is never 100% secure.

• Your data IS being used. We just don’t know all the details.